Even that would be better than what my hub is doing, since it selects channel 1 even though it's sitting next to another hub on channel 1.

If anyone's interested, it's an SR101 with firmware 1.15n.3591.R

So, you click on a video to watch. The router decides to switch channels and your PC loses connection. Your PC now tries to connect to your neighbour's BT Fon, but you will need to open your browser to type your login credentials - game over.
I don't think that would get past the Wifi Consortium QA testing.

The funny thing is, my older D-Link Sky router behaves exactly as desired: when set to auto it picks the least congested channel. The newer Hubs seem to have taken a backwards step.

Which raises the fun game of when should a router switch channels?

The latest SR102 hub seems ok. Mine has taken channel 6, it's sat right next to a BT Hub 3 on channel 1.

In reply to a post by CJ8:

The latest SR102 hub seems ok. Mine has taken channel 6, it's sat right next to a BT Hub 3 on channel 1.

I'd imagine it's a firmware issue so hopefully the SR101 can be corrected.

Hi Oliver. I trust you have manually set the Wi-Fi channels?

Probably best to choose channel 1 for one and Chanel 12 for the other so that they are at extreme ends of the spectrum. This should give you the least interference possible.

In reply to a post by PS123:

Hi Oliver. I trust you have manually set the Wi-Fi channels?

As I say, I have enough technical knowledge to scan the wifi channels with inssider and select an unused channel manually. The problem is that

1) I would like the router to do this for me every time it boots and

2) The vast majority of Sky customers will not do this, and shouldn't have to

The "auto" setting needs fixing.

Generally WiFi monitors such as inSSIDer etc, display only the WiFi transmissions in the immediate area.

However, there may be a NON-WiFi device radiating in other parts if the WiFi spectrum, thus your two Hubs staying on Channel 1.

Typical sources are Micro-Wave Cookers (intermittent obviously), Baby Monitors (more continuous), Plasma TV sets, etc.


To determine if anything of that sort is causing the "fixed" selection, you would have to ensure that all such devices are switched off; or alternatively use a Spectrum Analyser covering the WiFi Channels, 2.4 MHz and 5.0 MHz.

Some of the interference sources may be working at a much lower frequency, say 240 MHz; BUT producing harmonics, in this example, the 10th harmonic at 10*240MHz = 2,400 MHz = 2.4 GHz.

Generally the Harmonic content drops off rapidly in power at its source, so the 10th Harmonic would be at a very low power level; but WiFi generally works at very low power levels as well, so easily "drowned" by interference.

If WiFi was not at such low power levels, it could cause problems the other way; and also quickly discharge the batteries on portable devices.

Are you suggesting the Sky router has a spectrum analyser that can detect non-wifi radiation?